Switch for automatic telephone systems.



- A. H. DYSON. SWITCH FOR AUTOMATIQ, TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

A-PPLIGATION FIIEID JULY 5, 1907.

Patentd Nov. 15, 1910 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. H. DYSON. WITGH FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS;

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 190"].

PatenEz-a Nov. 15, N16.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED H. DYSON, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To KELLOGG SWITCHBOARD &sUPrLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

swI'roII FORIAUTOMATIC 'Y'IELEPHO'NE SYSTEMS.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

Original application filed October 31, 1905, Serial No. 285,321. Divided and thisapplication filed July Serial No. 382,244.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that l, Am uno H. Dyson, re-

siding in Chicago, county of Cook, antt State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches for Automatic Telephone Systems, of which the. following is a specification, the presentapplication beinjg a division of my application, Serial No. 285,321, filed October 31, 1905, for improvements in telephony.

- The object of my invention 13, to provide an improved form of selective switch for automatic telephone systems.

The switch of my invention is capable of use in varying QI'XVIIODHIGHCS,and I have elected to illustrate and describe tlie'saine as employed for the purpose of a connector although in general aspects it is also adapt-- ed f or use as a first or second selector or for other purposes as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 1

forming part of this application, I show in Figure 1, a side elevation of a switch of my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a contact bank of the said switch; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the said switch showing the details of the primary magnet and its associated mechanism: Fig. 4.- illustrates the said switch when viewed from t-he'front;

Fig. o shows the mechanism of the private relay and release magnet for said switch;

Fig. 6 illustrates a detail of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a top View of a primary cit-normal switch; F ig. 8 illustrates diagrammatically one circuit environment in connection with which the switch 0'1 my invention may be employed. the said circuit being a connector circuit for an automatic telephone system and shown in association with a called subscribcrs substation and line circuit.

1 shall first refer briefly to the circuit structure shown in F ig. 9 before proceeding to the dcscrhation'of theswitch proper.

At 197. 198, 199 in the circuit diagram are indicated the traveling contact wipers of the switch in association with which are shown the multiple contacts 200, 201, 202, forming multiple terminals pertaining to an indi vidual subscribefs line B. Although but one set is shown, the switch is provided with i a total of one hundred switch sets of conlelerring to the accompaying drawingtacts 200, 201, 202, forming terminals of that many subscribers lines, the said contact sets being arranged in ten groups before the switch wipers 197, 198, 199 acc0rding to the tens values of thelines in the one hundred to which they belong. The wipers are first adjusted step-by-step in'a primary plane to select the group of contact sets wanted, each step moving themadjacentfto a different group .of contact sets, hereafter the wipers are adjusted in an intersecting plane, wiping over the contact sets of the group to select the contact set of the wanted I line.

' For adjusting the wipers to select the group, the primary magnet'176 is provided, 1 while for adjusting them in the secondary direction, the secondary ma net 178 is provided. After the wipers are brought to connect to the contact set of a called line,- the test relay 192 is brought into operative rela-v tion with a contact 200 pertaining to the called line and is then "effective to place .a

'busy signal device 196 in connection with a conductor of the connector, or to cause the completion of the talking circuit'at the connector according as the called line is found busy or idle. For releasing the switch and 30 restoring it to normal, a release magnet 174 is provided.

'In adjusting the switch, current impulses from ground are first transmitted in any preferred manner over contact 164 (the switch being assumed at normal) which impulses pass through contact 1691 70, contact 17 5, primary magnet 176, to the grounded bat- -tery 204, actuating the magnet 17 6 as many times as impulses are transmitted, each act-uation thereof stepping the wipers 197, 198,

199 adjacent to a different contact group.

35 the said relay is eenergized, its denergization shifting contact 189 to disengage con- 'ta'ct 169-168 through contact 181-180, conlv 2(24, .each impulse causing an actuation of contact 200 'will be connected to battery 204 a 8. Relay 192 being a 197 engaging cont act 2000f the wanted line,

i sent from battery over contact 163. shifted lconltact 168, disengaging contact170, and farm 172 disengages contact 171, although it jjdoes not move sufiiciently to engage contact 7173, this being efi'ected only on the second f'lo adjust the switch wipers over the connumberof current impulses are next transof the wanted line. After the last of these .nector were already connected with a multi 'ple of contact 200 of the called line, relay gage the first contact set. With this first secondary step of the wipers, secondary offi normal switch-arm 169 is brought to engage secondary step of the wipers.

tact sets of the selected group, a suitable .mjtted from groundover contact 164 which impulses pass by way of the now closed contact 177, secondary magnet 178 to battery magnet. 178, and each'actuation driving the wipers 197, 1 98, 199 to engage a. successive i set of line contacts, the last impulse bringing them to en age the contact 200, 201, 202

impulses is transmitted, a secondary impulse is caused to flow from ground over contact 165, the now closed contact 172-173, contact 185-184, test relay 192 to battery 204, ener-' gizing the said relay which attracts its armature 193 .toengage contacts 194 and 195-. If the called line be idle, its multiple throughits'cut-oif relay 37 as shown in Fig. so now connected to the active side of said battery, and to wiper via contact 194-193 and 191-189, on the cessation of theim .ulse energizing relay 192,

tact 191 and to engage contact 190 whereby' circuit is completed from ground through relay 179, contact 190-189, contacts 197-200, 19-17, 21-22, cut-ofi relay 37 of called line to ground through battery 204, operating the said; relays, whereon 17 9 completes normal open contacts of the talking conductors of the connector by armatures 181 and 185 and bridges the central battery 204 across the'called subscribers line through inductive resistance 188. It will be readily seen that if another concontact 166-167, release magnet 174 to ground which magnet'will attract its armatures. When the impulse ceases, the armatures are retracted and the switch is restored to normal. The impulses described as transmitted over the contacts 163-164-165,may

be transmitted in any preferred manner-and for thepurpose of the description of my present invention, they may be transmitted by any form of manually controlled switch. Referring nowto Fig. 1, I there show a side elevation of the connector switch, in-

cluding one section'255 of a contact bank. In Fig. 2, is shown a sectional view of a bank on line 256-257 of Fig. 1. The terminal contacts of the bank are dis oscd as if projecting through the inner sur ace of a ho l ow sphere, as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2 and section 255, shown in Fig. 1. Referring to the said-Fig. 1,1t he wipers or contact arms" of the switch ma be rotated from left to right by means" of s aft 226' to which ratchet 227 is attached, the said ratchet being rotatable by primary magnet 176, the details of this beings'hown in Fig. 3. Thus, the wipers may be rotated to positions in front of, and into engagement with, different sections of contacts similar to that shown at 255. A second shaft 235 is (provided, adapted to be moved do'wn'war by the operation of secondary magnet 178, as indicated in Fig. 1. Upon the extremity of this shaft is a piece 236 which,'as the bait moves downward, presses downward the ex- 1 tremity of the wipers engaged by it. The ends of the wipers are so spaced with respect to the bank, that the first movement toward the bank only approaches them to it, without causing their engagement with bank can tacts. The wipers being pivotally associated with shaft 226,-success1ve downward move-- ments of shaft 235, after the first, bring the wipers into engagement with successive sets of contacts of a selected sect-ion. There being the proper number of teeth onratchet 227 and the proper number of ratchettce't-h in shaft 235,'the contact ends of the wipers -may be broughtto engage any of one hundred sets of contacts in-;a bank. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted thatpiece' 236, upon the end of shaft 235, is'broad in order that primary movements may not bring end 237 of the wipers beyond the extremity of the piece.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the primary movements of the wipers are'controlledas follows: Primary magnet 176 is provided with armature 232 to which is attached pawl 228. VVhen the said magnet is energized, its armature draws the said pawl for- Y ward, the latter engaging a tooth ofratchet 227 and rotating the ratchet of the primary shaft one step'. from left to right.v Detent 229 is provided, associated with ratchet227, and holds the ratchet in whatever position iii) . and will not be described.

Referrin now to Fig. 4, attached to the rotary sha is an arm 233 which, when the shaft is in its normal position, presses "ainst buffer-234 and holds spring 166 out i engagement with spring 167.

view of these parts is shown in F ig. 7.

' first rotary movement of shaft 226 is ina direction to move arm 233 away from buffer 234 so that spring 166 engages spring 167. When the; primary shaft is released and returned to normal, the arm again engages the buffer and restores the springs-to their normal positions- Assuming the rotary, shaft.

has been stopped, a Jsuiiicient number of times tobring the wipers of the switch opposite a desired section of contacts, their movement along the section to select the desired contacts will be described, having reference to Fig. 1. Secondary magnet 178 is provided with armature 238, with which is associated pawl 239. With eaclrmovement of the armature, said pawl engages a moth on vertical shaft 235 and moves the shaft downward a step. Below thelratchet engaged by pawl 239is a second ratchet, whose teeth detent 243 is adapted to engage. De.- tent 243 is normally out of engagement with its ratchet. The first movement of armature 232, acting upon lever 231 ,(Fig. 3), op-

erates by lifting spring v305 (Fig. 5) to freedetent 240 to release the detent 243 and cause it to engage the ratchet. The .said detent engages, with each thrust of pawl 239, successive teeth of its appropriate ratchet and holds shaft. 235 in whatever downward position it may have been carried by a thrust of pawl 239. Attached to shaft 235 is arm 238, which, when the shaft is in its normal position, holds stud 265 in the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby contacts'169-170 and 171.-172 are maintained closed and contacts 1 69168 and 1T2173 are maintained open. 'With the first downward movement of shaft 235, arm 238 is carried down so that st'ud 265, which extends through the frame of the switch, 1S carried downward by the.

tension of springs 169 and 172 and opens contacts 170169 and '171-172, closing contacts 169168 and on the second downward movement closes contacts 172-473. When shaft 235 is released after thcswitchhas been operated and returns to normal, arni 238 again engages stud 265, and the springs associated with it are; returned to normal. Private relay 192 (see Fig. 5) is provided with-armature 301. with which. is associated A top The arm 302, provided with a lug toward its extremity. When magnet 192 is energized,-its armature draws arm 302 to the left so that" the lug thereon engages a buffer of insulating material, shown associated Withspring. 189. \Vhen .the magnet is denergized, its. armature retracts arm .302, which carries with it spring 189, opening'contact 189.-l91

' and closing contact 189-190. Release. mag

net 174, also shown in. Fig. 5, isprovicled with armature 304:, associated with which. are arms 305 and 306. Then the magnet is energized, the latter of these arms, which is, interlocked with arm 302, retracts the latter out'ofengagement with spring 189, whose tension again'closes contact 189 191. De-

tail of this is shown in'Fig. 6. A dog 360 I is provided, its normal relationto .arm 302 Y being such that when the arm is attracted, its solid. right extremity. is brouglitpver dog 360. If, under this condition, that is .while private relay 192 is energized, release mag net 174. is energized,arm 306, depressing arm 302, causes dog 360 to engage the extremity; Y

of said armqVVhen the switch has reached normal under these circumstances, although magnet 192 has been energized and deener-- gized, circuit changing spring 189 .remains in its normal position, dog 360 holding arm- 302 depresseduntil its lugpasses to the right of the buffer on spring 189. This 'combinatlon prevents movement of spring 189 when the switch' is released after'connecting with 51 line already in use. \Vhen armaturei304r is attracted, arm 305 mov'esto' thei left and enioo gages lugs 230 and 240 on de'tents.229 and 243 by means of orifices provided in the arm.. a

In Fig. 3 is shown a top view of the. operating end of arm 305. In theportion .of Fig. 3 adjacent thereto is shown the operating relations of lugs 240 and 230 to detents 243. and 229. When the armature 304 is retracted, it draws the said detents out of engagement with the primary and secondary shaft ratchets respectively. Associated with arm 'llb 305 is lever 231, provided with a roller as shownin Fig. This lever, .it. will .he rewith detents 229 and 243, then move them to engage their respective ratchets.

Referring to Fig. 1, when the detents are simultaneously withdrawn from the ifatchets of the two shaft ratchets as described,'s ring 241, against the tension of which sha t 235 is operated, raises the-shaft upwardfuntil it' resumes the position shown, in which the forming part of the usual rack, is provided. T The u per bank plate 363 has an upwardly contact ends of the wipers are free of the lower edge of the bank. Attached to shaft 235 is'a projecting tooth 310 which, with the first downward movement of said shaft, en-

gages any adjacent tooth of ratchet 227, the. two shafts being thus interlocked. When shaft 235 reaches normal, tooth 310 disenages ratchet 227, and shaft 226 is free to he rotated, by the influence of spring 242. to its normal position. 7

As indicated inFigs. 1 and 2, each section or roup of contacts may be built or assemble separately, the two exterior plates 255 holding thecontacts, separated by suitable strips of insulating material, between them, the said plates being fastened together by the screws 361.- After being assembled, the sections are placed between the suitably grooved plates 362, 363, which are then rawntogether by means of the posts 365 in the well know 11 manner, holding the assembled structure ri id. By this arrangement the different sections of contacts may be re moved and replaced without unwirin'g an entireswitch bank. 1 I p c For supporting in place the selector mechanism described, an angleiron strip 366,

exten ing arm, parallel with the vertical pprtion of the iron 366, insulatir iglmaterial ing inserted between the two. ese parts are rigidly fastened together so that the bank as a whole is supported in fixed posi-' tion by the angle-iron. The magnets, sw1tchshafts and'other moving parts of the selector arecarried by the main switch frame 367. In mounting the ap aratus, the bank may be first fastened in p ace upon the'stri 366. The screws 368 may then be inserte part way in late 363. The switch frame 367 is provided with two orifices 369, larger below so as to pass over the heads of the screws 369, while the upper portions of the orifices are narrowed to fit snugly the shanks of said screws.- The bank having been mounted, the

switch frame 367 may be brought so that tion.

the orifices pass over the heads of the screws 368. The frame :is then allowed to drop down to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and the screws being then tightened, the en tire apparatus is he (1 rigidly in proper relameet the requirements of varying circuit hould trouble arise in' the parts sup-' orted by frame 367, the screws 368 may be organization, and the invention is not con fined to' the specific structure shown.

I claim:

1. In an electrical switching mechanism, passive contacts arranged in rows, movable arms having contact ends adapted to engage said contacts, an eleetromagnet and apparatus controlledthereby. for rotatin said contact ends to select a row, and an e ectromagnet and apparatus controlled thereby for rotating sa1 contact ends in an intersecting plane to select'a contact of a row.

2. In an electrical switching mechanism, passive. contacts arranged in rows, movable arms having contact ends ada ted to engage said contacts,- a primarysha t and a magnet therefor for rotating saidfends in one plane to select a row, an a seconda shaft and a magnet therefor for rotating said ends 'said contacts, a primary shaft and a ma et therefor for rotating said ends in one p ane to-select a row, a secondary'shaft and a magnet therefor for rotating said ends in a. se-

lected inters cting lane to select a contact .of a row, an an 0 -normal switch actuated on the first movement of the imary shaft and a second off-normal switch. actuated on the first movement of the secondary shaft.

4;. In an electrical switching mechanism, the combination with passive contacts arranged in groups of switching mechanism for connecting with said contacts, a moving member carrying contacts to select a group of contacts, a second moving member carrying said contacts to select contacts 'of a group, an off-normal switch actuated by said first member and a second off-normal switch actuated by said second member.

5; In an electrical switching mechanism, movable contact arms, apparatus for causing said arms to move in a plane, a shaft for movin said arms in an intersecting plane,

and a road lug associated with said shaft in operative relation with said arms in whatever' 'osition. they may be moved in said first p ans. 7

6. An automatic switch for electrical exchanges including a traveling switch contact, a first actuating member for adjusting said contact primar1ly,'a second actuating member for'ad'usting said contact secon'darily, and a mec anical interlock for said two members effective when said second member is actuated.

7. An automatic switch for electricale rchanges including a traveling contact member and stationary contacts in groupsj, a ratchet for adjusting said member to select a group, an additional ratchet for'adjustin said member to thereafter select a contacta ogg .3

a group, and a device controlled by said sec- Q a u exchanges, the combination with a rotary switclrshaft. of an independently adjustable longitudinally movable shaft. mechanism actuated on the first step of one of said shafts to lock the other, and contact devices controlled by said shafts.

10. In an automatic switch for electrical" exchanges, the-combination with a pair of independently ad ustable switch shafts, of a ratchet member fastened to one shaft, a pawl member adapted to engage said ratchet, said member being controlled by the actuation of the other shaft, and contact devices adjusted by said shafts cooperatively.

11. In an automatic switch for electrical exchan es, the combination with a primary switch ad usting ratchet and a secondary 30.

switch adjusting ratchet, of a movable member actuated responsive to the operation of said secondary ratchet to engage said primary ratchet, and adjustable contact devices controlled by said ratchets jointly.

12. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, the combination with a rotary ratchet, of a longitudinally adjustable switch-shaft and a pawl member rigid upon said shaft and adapted to be moved thereby to engage said ratchet.

13; In an automatic switclrfor electrical exchanges, the combination with adjustable ontact devices, of a primary ratchet memher, a secondary ratchet member, means for independently adjusting said members, and

a mechanical device rigidly associated with said secondary ratchet and moving there with adapted to engage said primary ratchet.

14. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, the combination with switch wipers, of a pair of independently adjustable swit-ch shafts jointly controlling said wipers, a contact adapted to have its connection altered on initial actuation of the first shaft, and a second contact adapted to have its connection altered on initial actuation of the second shaft. 7

15. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, the combination with switch wipers, of a pair of independently ad ustable switch shafts jointly controlling said wipers, a contactadaptcd to have its connection altered on initial actuation of the first shaft, a second contact adapted to have its connection altered on initial actuationof the second shaft, and mechanism for restoring the shafts, said mechanism serving-to also. restore said contacts in an order inverse to that of their operation.

16. Inau automatic switch. for electrical exchanges. the combination with-a rimar'y shaft and anindepeudently adjusta le secondary shaft, on primary off-normal contact actuated by theprimary shaft, and a 76 secondary off-normal contact actuated by thesccondary shaft.

'17. In automatic switching mechanism i for electrical exchanges, the combination with contacts arranged in groups, of a first 80 shaft controllin selecting mechanism to cause selection ofa particular contact group.

a second shaftcontrolling selectingmechanism to cause selection of a particular contact of a selected group, :an ofi'-normal con?v tact shifted on initial actuation of the first shaft, and a second off-normal contact shifted on initial actuation of the second a;- shaft. i

18. In' automatic switching 'mechanism for electrical exchanges, the combination? with contacts arranged in groups, of a first; shaft controlling selecting mechanism 1 cause selection ofa particular contact -group,-i a second shaft controlling selectingmecha -i nism to cause selection of a particular con-s tact of a selected group, an oif-normal co 71K tact shifted on initial actuation of the first r shaft. a second off-normal contact shifted'on; initial actuation of the second shaft, and r means for restoring said shafts to normahw said second shaft serving on reaching a tnor io mal point to restore the second off-normal contact, and said first shaft serving onreaching a normal point-to restore the first off-1 -normalcontact.

19. An automatic switch for-electrical -.,exc h anges including a plurality of groups 1;

of "electrical contacts, each grou constitute ingfa mechanically self-containe and sepia-@ 1 rately removable unit, adjustable contact dc-a vices and means for moving said devices;

step by step, each step serving to cause-then1--;

to select a different one of said units 20. An automatic switch for electrical ear-H11 changes including a plurality of groups Oicc electrical contacts, .each group constituting-Q; a mechanically self-contained and separately removable unit, adjustable contact devices,

means for moving said devices step by step,

each step servingito cause them to select a.

different one of said units, and means com-' mon to said units for holding them in fixed positions. v

21. In an automatic switch for, eleetrical'lffl exchanges, a contact bank comprislng a plurality of terminal contacts arranged in sets,

each set including a pair of talking contacts and a test or private contact, an assembhn of said sets into groups, each group constr tuting a mechanically self-contained unit, and holding means for the units to maintain them in fixed position in the bank.

22. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, a contact bank comprising a-plnrahty of like groups of contact sets, each set having a pair of contacts belonging to a particular circuit, a plurality of said sets forming one group and each group constituting a mechanically separately removable and replaceable unit in said bank.

23. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, a contact bank comprising a plurality of separately removable and replaceable contact units. each unit comprising a group of contacts, and means for adjusting select a different group.

24. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, the combination with an actuatsaid switch step by step, each step serving to ing ratchet, of a retaining pawl for holding P said ratchet against back motion, a release member normally holding said pawl disengaged from said ratchet, an electromagnct for controlling said ratchet, a cam surface for said member, and a roller camcontrolled' by said magnet adapted to engage said surface and actuate said device to free said pawl.

25. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, the combination with movable contacts, of a switch shaft pivotallv secured to said contacts and operative to adjust them in one plane, a second independently adjustable switch shaft for adjusting said contacts" in an intersecting., plane, mechanism for said contacts in mechanical contact with an id second shaft, and means whereby the actuation of said first shaft modifies said mechanical contact. t

26. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, the combination with movable contacts, of a pair of independently adjustable actuating members for moving said contacts, said contacts being pivotally connected. with one of said members and mechanically connected with the other, and means whereby the actuation of one of said members alters but does not destroy the connection of said contacts to the other member.

27. In an automatic switch for electrical exchanges, the combination with a switch bank having contacts and wiper members adapted for adjustment to engage said contacts, of a rotarily adjustable primaryswitch shaft, a longitudinally adjustable secondary switch shaft, said wiper members being in mechanical contact with both said shafts, and means whereby the actuation of said primary shaft changes relatively the contact relation between said wipers and said secondary shaft.

exchanges, the combination with a switch bank, of wiper members having contact ends adapted to be rotarily adjusted relatively to I said bank, a rotary shaft for adjustin said j members in one, plane, and a longitudinally moving shaft for rotating said contact ends in an intersecting plane.

29. A selector for automatic exchanges ineluding a contact bank and a switch frame supporting moving parts, means for rigidly supporting said bank in place independently of said frame, said frame being removably attached to said bank.

30. A' selector for automatic exchanges ineluding a switch bank, a switch frame carrying movable parts and removably supported by said bank,'whereby said frame may be detached while lavingsaid bank in fixed position.

31. A selector for.-..automatic exchanges comprising two mechanically. self-contained units, one'beingdheFeswitch bank, and the 1 other comprising the" moving" parts of the I selectors, a mounting'frame rigidly attached i to the bank unit, and means for removably l securing said other unit, whereby another 5 likeone 111ay'besubstituted -in'. its place, J while leavingsaid bank in place. 1

32. The combination with an'auto'matic selector having a bank unit, andfaselector frame carrying moving parts detachably connected with and supported by said unit, l of a rack su port to which said bank unit is attached in ependently'of,said frame, with i insulation between said rack and saitl unit.

In an automatic switch aselectrical exchanges, the combination with movable. contacts, of a switch shaft rotatable to'adjust said contacts in one plane; a second in an intersecting plane, mechanism for said contacts in mechanical contact .with said second shaft, and means whereby the actuation of said first shaft modifies said mechanical contact.

34. In an automatic switch'for'electrical exchanges, the combination with movable contacts, of a pair ofindependently adjust able actuating members one rotating and the other sliding to adjust said contacts, said contacts being mechanically connected with both said members, and means whereby the actuation of one of said members alters but does not destroy the connection of said contacts tothe other member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of July, 1907. F ALFRED H. DYSON.

W itncsses F. \V. DUN-BAR, G. E. MUELLER.

28. In an automatic switch for electrical switch shaft slidable to adjust saidcoiitaets 

